This will be Abby's last post. When I took her home a month ago I knew she would not be staying with me indefinitely and her time really has come and gone. I was and am happy to have her here, but her being her is not conducive to her being adopted. I have networked her everywhere I can and no one my posts have reached has room for one more kitty - let alone one needing such a unique set of skills to be cared for.
I have tried to highlight that while caring for a diabetic cat can seem highly intimidating, it does not have to be. Caring for a diabetic cat takes about a minute more than caring for a non diabetic cat. Yes you will need to feed specific foods, but one of those food options is Fancy Feast and is available at pretty much every store that sells cat food (and is cheaper than Rx foods). While I would never wish a diabetic cat on anyone, I will tell you that it does make for an incredibly special relationship, one that you will never forget. Many people who had a diabetic cat will go on and adopt additional diabetic cats because of that. If you are willing, know there are diabetic cats all over the place that are losing their lives for the simple fact that no one is stepping up to care for them. Also know that a large percentage of cats who are diagnosed with diabetes will go into remission with a simple diet change.
Abby is a couch potato in shape and demeanor. She has had an incredibly rough life up until now, but she still is so people orientated. She has never lashed out at me, she has never growled, never snapped, never even so much as appeared to consider it. If she doesn't like what I am doing her preference is to just get away. She is overweight and being in a cage for 10 months has not helped that one bit. She gained some more weight when she was here because I was feeding to her size and not to what she should be. Now she gets one can of FF in the AM and one in the PM and she has started to lose. Her blood sugars aren't quite as stable as I would like, but I can't help but wonder if it isn't because her pancreas is coming back 'online' and her body is considering going into remission *knocks wood* She is currently getting 1 unit of insulin twice a day.
I did offer her some of our raw food, and originally she wasn't that interested but I tried it again the other day and she ate it quite heartily. She didn't originally finish the meal before coming back for some love and attention. When she went back for a bit more I had put some canned food down and she started eating that, but you could see her say 'hey, this isn't what I was eating before' and trying to decide if it was worth moving her great big body to the other plate, and after another bite or two she decided it was worth it. It took every ounce of restraint to not jump up and down for joy. The lower the carb count the easier it is for her body to deal with the food and the lower the glucose levels usually are. Raw is awesome, but she is very happy with her canned food.
Sadly Abby has absolutely no interest in play. She doesn't really even bother watching balls rolling across the floor. Feathers cautiously dragged against her paws garners no response. If you wave them in her face she simply closes her eyes. Couch Potato. She wants to sit next to you, touching you, and having you pat her.
Picking Abby up is a quick way to distress her. She also doesn't like it when you put her on your lap. I have been trying to desensitize her to this, and she seems to be able to last a few seconds more each time I do it, but she has a strong preference to be a Couch Potato. She wants to sit next to you, touching you, and having you pat her and that is ALL she wants out of life. Well occasionally she likes to look at herself in the mirror.
Because of her extra weight and her time in the cage, her back legs are weak and are a bit splayed. She walks a bit funny, but she gets around okay. She hops up on the couch just fine. I imagine that if she continues to lose weight with an appropriate diet and good glucose control she will start to regain a more normal gait; not that this is necessary because she gets around just fine.
I have been giving her Rescue Remedy since her dental and it has been helping her a lot. Unfortunately I got the pet version which is made with glycerin which has an effect on her blood sugar levels. You can easily use the regular Rescue Remedy made with alcohol. I used that version with my own cat years ago.
She is not out the door yet, but I've decided to stop blogging about her with this post unless we have some wonderful news. She has someone who has offered to cover some transportation costs for her if someone wants to adopt her but they aren't near by. We are also looking for alternatives to sticking her back in a cage at the shelter; hopefully we can work something out. Sadly Abby falls distinctly into that category of 'the cats no one wants' which just breaks my heart.
WE are purring for good news and wonderful humans to give her a forever home.
ReplyDeleteEmma and Buster
I'm so sad there has been no interest in Abby. I will spread the word about her.
ReplyDeleteIt saddens me and I know and understand what you mean by Abby being a cat no one wants and how heartbreaking that is. She would make a wonderful cat for a elderly person who could give her care because of her demeanor.
ReplyDeleteoh we're SO hoping someone will fall in love with you, sweet girl -- very soon!
ReplyDeleteoh Miss Abby....we have shared too and wish someone would come forward and make you their forever cat
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope someone will fall in love with Abby and provide a special forever home for this special girl. Good luck sweet Abby!
ReplyDeleteWe're purring like crazy that someone will come through for Abby. She so deserves a good home.
ReplyDeleteAww, we are hoping and purring for a happy forever home for sweet Abby!
ReplyDeleteAbby sounds like a great kitty. We will purr and pray some more for her to find a home, and we will tweet about her now!
ReplyDeleteWe pray for a miracle for the sweet, beauty Abby, purrs for the right and perfect forever home to step forward where she is cherished.
ReplyDeleteOh... this is heartbreaking. I do hope this darling girl will find a furever home. I will share this post too.
ReplyDeleteThe cat before brandi was a black kitty with one white patch on her throat and diabetes in her health chart! Now diabetes is very controllable, so Abby, you can find a special home! I am sending hugs and purrs!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was easier for my Mommy cause she has the same disease! Maybe a diabetic mommy or daddy is in your future? Anyway, we are certainly hoping your furever home comes soon!
Please look up Diabetic Cats in Need on Facebook. They will most likely cross post for you to get her adopted. That is how we adopted our Mai Thai.
ReplyDeleteI don't need to look them up :) I was around when they were founded. They already posted about her and there was no one interested.
DeleteThat is such a very beautiful picture and so heartwrenching to hear her story! She would be ideal for a human couch potato, maybe an older person who's not so agile! I will share all over amongst my massive (not) followers. But you never know! It just takes one x
ReplyDeleteI really hope Abby finds a home soon! It is so hard to take them back to the shelter when you don't know how long they will be there. It seems like people feel sorry for and adopt quickly cats that have physical disabilities such as being blind or missing a limb, but when they have a chronic medical condition they don't seem to have the same sympathy. It is such a shame since they are great cats and so many chronic medical conditions can be easily treated.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Jenny
That poor sweet girl, we sure hope her happy finds her.
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling cat. I wish I could help out.
ReplyDeleteLittle sweetie! Hopefully she finds a loving home to go to soon.
ReplyDeletexo Catherine
Wow, we wish we could take her in, but we have a full house. She really needs that special person to love her and vice versa. We are purring and praying for her appily ever after. XOCK, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo
ReplyDeletekeeping our fingers and paws crossed for Abby,but I will share this post,every little bit helps,xx Rachel and Speedy
ReplyDeleteWhat a darling heart..Diabetes is manageable indeed an we will share this sweetie in the hopes someone has a couch with a place for her and her sweet self..hugs Fozziemum xx
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